Here's why:
* Gel Polish Chemistry: Gel polish contains photoinitiators. These chemicals react to specific wavelengths of light (UV or LED) by cross-linking, forming a hard, durable coating.
* Regular Nail Polish Chemistry: Regular nail polish dries through evaporation. The solvents in the polish evaporate, leaving behind the solid pigments and resins. No light is required for this process.
What happens if you try to use regular nail polish under a UV/LED lamp?
* Nothing. The regular nail polish will *not* harden. It will likely wrinkle, bubble, and possibly stay sticky or wet, depending on the ingredients.
In short, use gel polish for UV/LED curing. Regular polish is air-dried only.